A blog dedicated to the discussion of topics relating to the history of Sandusky and Erie County, Ohio; inspired by the collections of the Sandusky Library Archives Research Center and Follett House Museum. A service of the Sandusky Library.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

George J. Lehrer as Abraham Lincoln

From the 1940s through the 1960s, Sandusky resident George J. Lehrer toured the United States portraying former President Abraham
Lincoln. Mr. Lehrer’s tall, thin frame, and his excellent voice made him an ideal
Lincoln
impersonator. Besides his portrayal of Lincoln,
George J. Lehrer also gave other educational, patriotic, and inspirational
presentations. When George J. Lehrer presented the Gettysburg Address at Cedar
Point on Memorial Day of 1962, all the amusement parks rides were stopped
during his performance, in honor of Lehrer’s portrayal of Abraham Lincoln.

In
1906 George J. Lehrer produced a SanduskyHigh School play entitled
“Every Man,” which was performed at the Sandusky Library’s Carnegie Hall. Mr.
Lehrer was a charter member of the Actors Equity Association, and a member of
the Association of Directors of the Actors Guild. He acted on Broadway, and for
a time he was associated with the Lloyd-George Studios, which created stage scenery and costumes. On August 25,
1966, George J. Lehrer passed away at the age of 77. At his death, he was survived by his
wife, three sons, a daughter, and nine grandchildren. George J. Lehrer’s father, George T.
Lehrer was a former Mayor of Sandusky.

1 comment:

A commenter on our Facebook page, a descendant of Mr. Lehrer, noted a mistake in our original description of his family members. We left out his daughter in the description of surviving family. Additionally, the commenter noted, "He also had 9 living grandchildren at his death, 3 more born after, for a total of 12 grandchildren."